{"id":1309,"date":"2012-07-16T00:00:02","date_gmt":"2012-07-16T04:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1309"},"modified":"2012-07-15T19:16:26","modified_gmt":"2012-07-15T23:16:26","slug":"winter-chapter-16-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1309","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 16 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Elton and Wat were five steps away from the door as Aoife burst through it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She ran right into the doctor\u2019s chest and he caught her, held her fast.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet go,\u201d Aoife said, half breathless, half whimpering.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s something <\/span>outside<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Wat\u2019s mouth snapped shut and he glanced from her to Gray, Ter\u00e9zia, and Kes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs that what all the screaming was about?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething just changed from a man into a wolf,\u201d Kes said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt was trying to look through the window at us and when we saw it, it ran away.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA wolf was trying to watch you through the window?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Elton said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, it was a man,\u201d Kes said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe turned <\/span>into<\/span><\/em> a wolf when he ran away.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Wat looked at Kes, then at Ter\u00e9zia, then back at Kes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know, I\u2019d expect that from Teca, but you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo lie, Wat,\u201d Gray said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe all saw it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGreat, the crazy is catching.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFuck this shit,\u201d Aoife said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She stomped on Elton\u2019s foot hard enough that the doctor yelped and let go of her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She darted for the lodge\u2019s doors.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGray, did you ever get to do more than sprinkle herbs around the place?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Gray glanced at Ter\u00e9zia quickly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, nothing else,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Aoife cursed and threw the doors open, stepping out into the night.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDamn it all,\u201d Gray swore, pushing past Elton and Wat, going after her.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia darted after him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWat, grab some shotguns.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd load them with <\/span>what<\/span><\/em>?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Silver fucking bullets?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kes squeezed his arm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll just have to hope that they\u2019re not here to hurt us\u2014or that they\u2019ll die when you shoot them just like anything else.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She glanced at Elton.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou better make sure the kids stay where you put them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The doctor gave her a long, hard look and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou guys be careful.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe will be.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kes squeezed Wat\u2019s arm again before she turned to follow the others. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her heart thudded wildly against her chest as she scanned the pathway up to the lodge, the trees that lined it\u2014anything and everything, searching for any sign of what they\u2019d seen through the window.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She breathed through her mouth, trying not to gag on her fear.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It doesn\u2019t have to be those.\u00a0 <\/span>It could be another type of shifter.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It could be.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s no reason to assume it\u2019s one of <\/span><\/em>those<\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Except for the fact that her brother had been involved in some kind of altercation in Michigan, and it wouldn\u2019t have surprised her in the slightest if their long-ago enemies had show up once again to trouble them.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our allies were always too few and far between.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Someone\u2019s hand closed on her shoulder and she went tense, poised to strike until she heard Gray\u2019s voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve got your back.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Those words were more comforting than they had any right to be.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She swallowed hard and nodded.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Something growled ahead of them, to the left.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She broke out in a sweat, fighting to hold her shaking in check.<\/span>\u00a0 I\u2019m not strong enough for this.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The brush rustled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something leapt, a thing with sable fur and bright amber eyes that glowed from the inside out.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A shriek echoed from above them and a shadow dropped from the sky, red-eyed and screaming, like a giant bat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Aoife cried out, backing into Gray.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His arms wrapped around her and he spun her away, shielding her with his body.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There was a wet crunching sound and a howl.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Both <\/span>things<\/span><\/em> tumbled off into the brush.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Gray shoved Aoife back toward the open lodge doors.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet back inside!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia caught her as she stumbled toward the doors.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Gray came on her heels, shoving both women back inside and slamming the doors behind them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He leaned against them, breathing hard.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWat, Kes\u2014grab that bench and bring it over here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We need to bar the doors.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell was that flying thing?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia asked, still holding onto Aoife.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She couldn\u2019t stop shaking, her heart hammering a thousand miles a minute.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Aoife said, gulping in air, gobbling it greedily, as if it would help her steady herself.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut I think we\u2019re suddenly in the middle of some kind of twisted turf war.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It didn\u2019t feel right\u2014neither of them did.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Wood scraped on wood as Kes and Wat hauled the bench toward the main doors.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Gray helped them wrestle it into place and sank down on it, still breathing hard.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His gaze fell on Aoife.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut you know what those wolf-things are, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Hamrammr<\/span><\/em>,\u201d Aoife said, meeting his gaze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The shakes wouldn\u2019t stop.<\/span>\u00a0 Gods and monsters, pull yourself together!<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cScandinavian werewolves.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I think that\u2019s what they are, anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWait, what?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Wat stared at her, then at his friends, then back to Aoife again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s awfully specific.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s an awfully specific breed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I hope that I don\u2019t know who sent them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kes frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt does when you know who\u2019s used them in the past,\u201d Aoife said grimly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd if they\u2019ve been sent by the ones who\u2019ve used them in the past, my brother has opened old wounds and sucked us into a war that I don\u2019t think we can win.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s terribly comforting,\u201d Gray muttered.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know,\u201d Aoife said, finally stepping away from Ter\u00e9zia as she brought the shakes under control.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All she wanted was for Gray to put his arms around her and tell her everything was going to be all right\u2014for anyone to do it, but for him most of all.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s why I hope I\u2019m wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd if you\u2019re not?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She exhaled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen we hope that they\u2019re only hunting for Phelan and that they\u2019ll lose interest when they figure out that I\u2019m not him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We have to hope.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She squeezed her eyes shut.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Gods and monsters.\u00a0 <\/span>Please.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Please.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Please let me be wrong about this.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Please let me be wrong.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Something slammed against the doors, rattling them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia gave a startled little cry and Aoife flinched, sinking to her knees.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGods and monsters,\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPlease.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Elton and Wat were five steps away from the door as Aoife burst through it.\u00a0 She ran right into the doctor\u2019s chest and he caught her, held her fast. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLet go,\u201d Aoife said, half breathless, half whimpering.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,55,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-16","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-l7","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1310,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1309\/revisions\/1310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}